ISLAMABAD, February 21, 2012: Starting an hour and 25 minutes behind schedule, the fifth sitting of Sindh Assembly’s session met for two hours and 35 minutes on Tuesday.

The Speaker prorogued the session at 1400 but asked the Members to stay in the House as Federal Minister for Interior had to present the investigation report on the assassination of former Prime Minister, in compliance with a resolution passed by the assembly.

Out of the 20 questions on the Agenda, five were taken up, as 38 Supplementary Questions were also asked. The relevant minister was present in the House.

Twelve Points of Order consumed 28 minutes of the sitting time. However, none of the Points of Order raised attracted the Chair’s formal ruling.

The parliamentary leaders of the PMLQ (F-B), MQM, ANP, PPPP and PML were present while those of NPP and PMLF did not attend the sitting.

The following are some key observations of the parliamentary business:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Sindh Assembly met for two hours and 35 minutes
• The sitting started at 1125 hours instead of the scheduled starting time of 1000 hours. The proceedings were delayed by an hour and 25 minutes.
• The Speaker chaired the sitting for two hours and 10 minutes while the remaining time was presided over by the Deputy Speaker.
• The Chief Minister was not present.
• The parliamentary leaders of the PMLQ (F-B), MQM, ANP, PPPP and PML were present while those of NPP and PMLF did not attend the sitting.
• Forty-six Members (28% of the total Membership) were present at the start while 88 (53%) were there when the sitting was adjourned.
• Four minority Members were present during the proceedings.
• One Member applied for leave to be absent.
  

Representation and Responsiveness

• Out of the 20 questions on the Agenda, five were taken up, as 38 supplementary questions were also asked. The relevant minister was present in the House.

Output

• The Registration Sindh (Amendment) Bill 2012 was introduced.
• The House adopted a Resolution calling the provincial government to ensure that Karachi University establishes at least two campuses in Naushehro Feroze and Tharparkar.
  

Order and Institutionalization

• Twelve Points of Order consumed 28 minutes of the sitting time. However, none of the Points of Order raised attracted the Chair’s formal ruling.
• There were no instances of protests, boycotts or walkouts during the sitting.
  

Transparency

• Orders of the Day were available to Legislators, observers and others.
• Information on Members’ attendance was unavailable to observers and the public.

• The Quorum, visibly lacking at various stages during the sitting, was not pointed out by any Member.

The Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of Sindh Assembly proceedings conducted by Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF), a member organization of FAFEN